Sunday, March 25, 2018

Celebrating the birth of Sri Rama ~ Sree Rama Navami 2018

Today (25th
Mar 2018) is the holy day of Sree Rama Navami – the day on which Lord Sri
Ramachandramurthy, the supreme avatar of Maryada Purush was born in
the blessed land of Ayodhya. Lord Rama descended on earth for the purpose
of upholding righteousness and rewarding virtue.

Sage Valmiki,
- the most eloquent of men enquired Sri Narada – ‘Who is
there in the World today, endowed with excellent & heroic qualities, versed
in all duties of life, truthful, trustworthy, firm in his vows, benevolent,
learned, handsome, patient, free from envy & when excited to
wrath can strike terror into the hearts of celestial beings ? ~and Sage responded thus :

इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो
*रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः ।

नियतात्मा महावीर्यो*द्युतिमान्धृतिमान्
वशी ॥

There is only one by name
Sri Rama, born in the lineage of Ikshwaku.He is totally balanced, one in complete control of His words, thoughts
and deeds; a man of great valour ~ a person of steadfast character and radiant
countenance – Lord Sree Rama

सर्वदाऽभिगतस्सद्भिः
समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।

आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव*
सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ॥

His great qualities are
such that noble persons all over the World are drawn to Him like rivers finding
their way to the Ocean.He conducts
himself equably all the time and he is extremely charming ! – the great Sri
Rama.

Ayodhya Ammaji mandir Sri
Rama

Narada muni acquainted
with the past, the present and the future, pleased with the words of the Sage
Valmiki, answered him saying:- ‘ Rare indeed are those, endowed with the
qualities thou hath enumerated, yet I can tell thee of such a person,
born in the lineage of Ikshwaku, renowned, self-controlled, valourous,
illustrious, wise, conversant with ethics, code, slayer of foes, broad
shouldered, long armed, eminent in archery, noble head, of mighty prowess –
known as Sri Rama. His country, the Kosala Kingdom was replete with
happiness. The only trouble was that nobody could donate ~ for the simple
reason that there were none to seek and beget things from others. People lived
in such a perfect harmony that there was no fight and there was no opportunity
to display valour ~ the subjects were well educated and lived life full of
honour… its capital which had no wars was known as ‘Ayodhya’

His birth was
extraordinary ~ His father was Emperor Dasaratha – who was well-versed in Veda,
was a gatherer of all scholars, riches and forces as well, a foreseer;
esteemed by urbanites and countrymen alike, a top-speeded chariot-warrior among
the emperors of Ikshwaku kings, one who performed many Vedic rituals, a
virtuous one, a great controller, a saint-like kingly sage, who was equal
to Indra. Sriman Narayana, with all His kindness agreed to
incarnate as human and selected King Dasharatha as his father. When Dasharatha
peformed the Vedic ritual called putrakaameshti, Praajaapatya
purusha arose from the sacrificial fire to give a golden vessel of divine
dessert to Dasharatha for distribution among his queens to beget progeny.

The Greatest of Ithihasa
purana ‘Sri Ramayanam’ is the undiluted history of the Greatest Person
who descended on this Universe, on the banks of river Sarayu, in a prosperous
country called ‘Koshala’. In the immortal Ramayana, there are learning of
life ….. For the Universe, Sri Rama and Sita are the Ideal persons. Sri
Rama is all pervading principle of Truth, character, steadfastness, sincerity,
valour, skill, correctness, just, compassionate, righteous and more.

~ and there is also a
great character – a warrior, mightily powerful, whose body was as hard as a
diamond, whose speed equalled those of fastest flying eagles, who possessed
great wisdom, who could organize a group of roaming ones, who can jump hundreds
of miles, yet who remained at the feet of his Master, totally committed
thinking of their welfare alone – unassuming, yet capable of telling the right
things at the right moment – that is Pavana Puthra Hanuman – Aanjaneya,
‘thiruvadi’ – bearer of Lord Rama – who carried Rama on his shoulders during
the war in which the demon was killed.

On this day of Sri Rama
Navami, there will the purappadu of Sri Rama in Hanumantha vahanam later in the
evening. Mere chanting of His name [Sri Rama Namam] will bring us all good
things and prosperity.

राम रामेति रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।

सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

Meditate again and
again the divine name of Rama - mind gets absorbed in the divine
consciousness of Rama, it is transcendental and is capable of relieving all
evils, giving us all prosperity.